by Scott Boeck, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Boeck, USA TODAY Sports

Derek Jeter will make his season debut with the New York Yankees this afternoon in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals.

The Yankees captain will serve as the designated hitter and bat second in the lineup.

"In perfect world Derek would have played in Scranton (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) today, but what happened to Travis Hafner and Brett Gardner last night, we brought him back," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Jeter, who has missed the entire season while recovering from a broken ankle, was expected to play a fifth game with the Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) today, but the injuries to Hafner and Gardner accelerated the decision.

"Derek will finish rehab in the big leagues," said general manager Brian Cashman. "Everyone knows this is where he needs to be ... We're better with him. Period."

In four games with Scranton, Jeter went 1-for-9 (.111) with four walks in 13 plate appearances and committed one error in three games at shortstop.

Girardi thinks Jeter will pick up where he left off last season -- when he batted .316 with 216 hits -- despite coming of two ankle fractures at the age of 39.

"I expect him to be the Derek he was last year," Girardi said. "There's nothing that tells me he cant be."

Girardi hopes so. Yankees shortstops have struggled offensively in place of Jeter this season. They combined to bat .211 (29th in MLB) with a slugging percentage of .283 (30th) and 88 strikeouts (30th).

Jeter has had a nine-month layoff. He broke his ankle in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers on Oct. 13.

He was on schedule to return on time for the regular season opener, but played just five spring training games before he began to feel discomfort. On April 18, a new break was discovered that kept him on the disabled list until now.

The Yankees, who head into today's game in fourth place in the American League East with with a 49-22 record, hopes to get third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who his recovering from hip surgery, back after the All-Star break. Center fielder Curtis Granderson is expected back next month after his broken finger has healed.